Dive Brief:
- Lidl US plans to open a new location in Baltimore, Maryland, on Dec. 16, the discount grocery chain announced Friday.
- The store will be Lidl’s second location in Baltimore and 23rd overall in Maryland.
- Lidl has announced eight other store debuts so far in 2026 and concentrated most of its expansion this year in the New York City metropolitan area, where it already had a strong presence.
Dive Insight:
Like other stores in the German chain, the new Baltimore location, at 5950 Belair Rd., will feature the retailer’s signature in-store bakery as well as a rotating selection of non-foods items including kitchen gear and clothing.
Lidl has opened seven stores in and around New York City to date in 2026, including five in the city itself. Lidl also opened a store in Tappan, New York, north of New York City, in September, and a location in the city’s suburb of Totowa, New Jersey, in February. In August, Lidl opened a store in Falls Church, Virginia, which is in the suburbs outside Washington, D.C.
The chain, which runs about 200 stores in nine U.S. states and Washington, D.C., has grown at a relatively modest pace in the U.S. since opening its first stateside stores in 2017, even as fellow German grocery retailer Aldi’s presence in this country has zoomed forward.
Aldi is on track to open more than 180 locations in 31 states by the end of 2026. By the end of the year, the chain expects to run almost 2,800 stores, and it plans to have 3,200 by the time 2028 wraps up.
While Lidl only opened a handful of stores this year, foot traffic in the chain’s stores increased during that period, suggesting that it is building momentum with shoppers. Between January and August, overall visits to Lidl’s stores increased almost every month and outperformed the broader value grocery sector, according to data published by Placer.ai.
Lidl US’s expansion this year has come against a backdrop of operational change. The company transitioned to a new CEO in July, when it also introduced a points-based loyalty program to replace a program that doled out rewards based on predetermined spending thresholds.
